JapanAI regulation

Regulation Status

• Japan has an AI-specific law: the Act on Promotion of Research and Development and Application of Artificial Intelligence-Related Technologies (AI Promotion Act), enacted on 28 May 2025, which promotes AI while addressing misuse risks (crimes, data breaches, copyright) and lets the government investigate, issue warnings and publicly name companies where AI-related incidents infringe citizens' rights.
• Japan leads international AI cooperation through the G7 Hiroshima AI Process and the Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group, and has built out domestic soft law including the Social Principles of Human-Centric AI (2019), AI Guidelines for Business, and AI Safety Institute guidance on safety evaluation and red-teaming.
• Multiple regulators are active: the Japan Fair Trade Commission has studied the generative-AI market and is investigating AI search services, the Personal Information Protection Commission addresses AI privacy (with bills to ease data-protection rules for AI development), and sectoral bodies have issued guidance in finance, defence and government procurement.
• In December 2025 the Cabinet adopted Japan's first basic plan on AI development and utilisation, aiming to make Japan the most AI-friendly country by balancing innovation with risk management and accelerating AI use across central and local government.